1864 - The Strategies of Battle
On this day in 1864, Grant outwitted Lee by shifting campaign from Cold Harbor to Petersburg. Surprise attack by Gen. W.F. ("Baldy") Smith succeeded... Continue →
War of 1812
ON this day in 1812,the United States declared war on Britain War. Although the U.S. Army did not enlist African Americans after the Revolutionary... Continue →
1864 - Siege of Petersburg and Richmond began
On this day in 1964, Siege of Petersburg and Richmond began. Thirty-two Black infantry regiments and Black cavalry regiments were involved in siege.... Continue →
1775 - Peter Salem
On this date in 1775, Peter Salem a free slave and a private in Captain Simon Edgel's company at the battle of Bunker Hill, was the first military... Continue →
1862 - Congress authorized President Lincoln to accept blacks in Union Army.
On this date in 1862, Congress authorized President Lincoln to accept blacks in Union Army.
1775 - Blacks soldiers fought in battles
On this date in 1775, Blacks soldiers fought at Battle of Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill. Among the heroes of the battle were Peter Salem and Salem... Continue →
1942 - U.S. Navy 1st Black Officer
On this date in 1942, the U.S. Navy commissions its first black officer, Harvard University medical student Bernard Whitfield Robinson.
1962 - 12,000 federal soldiers restore order on the University of Mississippi campus.
On this date in 1962, Some twelve thousand federal soldiers restored order on the University of Mississippi campus. James H. Meredith, escorted by... Continue →
1962 - James Meredith starts school
ON this date in 1962, James Meredith starts school. He was the first Black student at University of Mississippi It took, 3000 federal troops quell... Continue →
1951 - Twenty-fourth Infantry Regiment,deactivated in Korea
On this date in 1951, The Twenty-fourth Infantry Regiment, last of all-Black units military units authorized by Congress in 1866, deactivated in... Continue →
1935 - Robert H Lawrence (First Black astronaut), was born on this date
On this date in 1935, Robert H Lawrence (Named the first Black astronaut), was born on this date.
1935 - Ethiopia Invaded by Italy
On this date in 1935, Ethiopia, one of the only two independent African nations at the time, was invaded by Facist Italy under Benito Mussolini. The... Continue →
1996 - Congress passed a bill authorizing the creation of 500,000 Black Revolutionary
On this date in 1996, Congress passed a bill authorizing the creation of 500,000 Black Revolutionary War Patriots Commemorative coins.
1777 - African Americans Replaces Reluctant Whites
On this day in 1777, African Americans Replaced Reluctant Whites as, losses on the field of battle and rising White desertions reduced the... Continue →
1895 - Riding Saddle
On this date in 1895, W.D. Davis patented an improved riding saddle. Davis invented his saddle while serving as a buffalo soldier, African American... Continue →
1775 - Council of general officers decided to bar slaves
On this date in 1775, Council of general officers decided to bar slaves and free Blacks from Continental Army.
1940 - The White House pens segregation policy
On this date in 1940, the White House released a statement which said that government "policy is not to intermingle colored and white enlisted... Continue →
1814 - General Jackson Reneges On His Promise
On this date in 1814, General Jackson Reneges On His Promise: General Jackson, on order to prepare to meet Packenham, the British General, in the... Continue →
1972 - Forty-six Black and white sailors injured in race riot.
ON this date in 1972, 46 Black and white sailors injured in race riot on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk of North Vietnam.
1926 - First Black naval aviator, Jesse Leroy Brown born.
On this date in 1926, First Black naval aviator, Jesse Leroy Brown was born.
1974 - National Guard mobilized to restore order.
On this date in 1974, National Guard mobilized to restore order in Boston school busing crisis.
1940 - Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr promoted to General
ON this date in 1940, Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr. named the first Black general in the regular army.
1859 - John Brown attacked Harpers Ferry, Virginia.
ON this date in 1859, John Brown attacked Harpers Ferry, Virginia, with thirteen white men and five Blacks. Two of the five Blacks were killed, two... Continue →
1956 - Mae Jemison: Astronaut, Physician, Engineer was born
On this date in 1956, Mae C. Jemison was born the youngest of three children of Charlie and Dorothy Jemison, a maintenance worker and schoolteacher.... Continue →
1983 - Grenadian Prime Minister killed
On this date in 1983, Grenada's U.S. educated Prime Minister Maurice Bishop killed in a military coup.
1872 - John H Conyers enters Naval Academy.
On this date in 1872, John H Conyers becomes the first African American to enter the US Naval Academy.
1775 - Continental Congress approved resolution barring African Americans from the army.
On this date in 1775, Continental Congress approved resolution barring African Americans from the army. Although, throughout the war, Washington, the... Continue →
1935 - Italy invaded Ethiopia
On this date in 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia. American Blacks held mass meetings of protest and raised funds for the Ethiopian defenders.
1940 - Benjamin O Davis becomes the first Black general in US Army
On this date in 1940, Benjamin O Davis becomes the first Black general in US Army.
1892 - Lincoln .F. Brown patents bridle bit
On this date in 1892, Lincoln F. Brown patents Bridle bit. Patent No. 484,994
1876 - President sent federal troops to South Carolina
On this date in 1876, President sent federal troops to South Carolina.
1954 - B.O. Davis Jr. became the first Black general
On this date in 1954, B.O. Davis Jr. became the first Black general in the U.S. Air Force.
1862 - First Kansas Colored Volunteers drove off superior force of rebels
On this date in 1862, First Kansas Colored Volunteers repulsed and drove off superior force of rebels at Island Mound, Missouri. This was the first... Continue →
1954 - Defense Department eliminates segregated regiments.
On this dated in 1954, Defense Department announced elimination of all segregated regiments in the armed forces.
1970 - North Carolina Riots
On this date in 1970, National Guard mobilized in Henderson, N.C., due to riots.
1917 - Emmett J. Scott, former secretary to Booker T. Washington, was appointed special assistant
ON this date in 1917, Emmett J. Scott, former secretary to Booker T. Washington, was appointed special assistant to the Secretary of War. His role... Continue →
1906 - President Roosevelt ordered discharge
On this date in 1906, President Roosevelt ordered discharge of three companies of Twenty-fifth Regiment for alleged involvement in the Brownsville... Continue →
1970 - Death of B.O.Davis Sr.
On this date in 1970, B.O. Davis Sr. (93), first Black general, dies in Chicago.
1957 - Federal troops left Little Rock
ON this date in 1957, Federal troops left Little Rock.
1753 - Soldier & patriot James Robinson is born.
On this date in 1753, Soldier & patriot James Robinson is born. When he won a medal for bravery at the Battle of Yorktown, he was promised his... Continue →
1780 - Black Slaves welcomed Into American Army
On this date after the winter of Valley Forge, Black slaves and free men were welcomed into the American Army. There were Black soldiers in the... Continue →
1944 - Korematsu v. United States
Korematsu v. United States (1944) Parties involved: Fred Korematsu, a twenty year old Japanese American who was born in Oakland, California decided... Continue →
1864 - Largest All-Black Unit established
On this date in 1864, Twenty-fifth Corps, largest all-Black unit in history of U.S. Army, established in Army of the James.
1783 - Samuel " Black Sam" Fraunces
ON this date in 1783, George Washington gives his farewell address to his troops at Fraunces Tavern in NYC owned by ,Samuel " Black Sam" Fraunces a... Continue →
1946 - Executive Order 9808
On this date in 1946, in the aftermath of World War II, mob violence and lynching of Black Americans, in conjunction with the continuing controversy... Continue →
1918 - Charity Earley born
Born on this day, Charity Earley became the first Black commissioned officer in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942.
1775 - Salem Poor recognized
Salem Poor was a Black hero of the Revolutionary War. He distinguished himself so in battle that fourteen American officers praised him before... Continue →
1890 - Sgt. Thomas Shaw earned Congressional Medal of Honor.
On this date in 1890, Sgt. Thomas Shaw earned Congressional Medal of Honor.
1941 - Dorie Miller Messman on USS Arizona
On this date in 1941, Dorie Miller of Waco, Texas, messman on USS Arizona, manned machine gun during Pearl Harbor attacks and downed four planes. He... Continue →
1775 - The Authorizing of enlistment of free blacks
ON this date in 1775, alarmed by impact of the Dunmore proclamation, Washington reversed himself and authorized the enlistment of free Blacks.
1977 - Karen Farmer becomes first African American member of the Daughters of the American Revolution
ON this date in 1977, Karen Farmer becomes the first African American member of the Daughters of the American Revolution when she traces her ancestry... Continue →
1863 - Naval Medal of Honor awarded to Robert Blake
On this date in 1863, Robert Blake, powder boy aboard the USS Marbelhead, was the first Black awarded the Naval Medal of Honor "for conspicuous... Continue →
1984 - Jesse Jackson secures release of Black pilot
On this date in 1984, Rev. Jesse Jackson secures the release of pilot Lt. Robert Goodman, shot down over Damascus.
1947 - NAACP report
On this date in 1947, NAACP report said 1946 was "one of the grimmest years in the history of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored... Continue →
